The 15 Best Moments for Women in 2017

This year could best be described as a long series of hurdles for women to jump, but it was the year we banded together to take the leap. From politics to protests to exposing sexual harassment, the power of women was a force to be reckoned with in 2017—and it's only the beginning. As the year comes to an end, take a look back at some of the feminist highlights worth celebrating, and remind yourself 2017 wasn't all bad.

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1The Women's March Becomes The Largest Single-Day Protest in U.S. History

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On January 21, the record-breaking Women's March took place across the nation (and world) and set the tone for the year. Following Donald Trump's inauguration, an estimated four million-plus marchers peacefully hit the streets in over 600 marches across the country, including D.C., New York City, and Las Vegas. Men, women, and children marched with feminist signs and symbolic pink pussy hats to send a message loud and proud across the world —paving the way for a year of feminist moments.

2Meryl Streep Delivers A Powerful Speech at the Golden Globes

While accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award at the Golden Globes, actress Meryl Streep delivered an inspiring and powerful speech addressing the importance of inclusion and attacking the bullying of the Trump administration. "This instinct to humiliate, when it's modeled by someone in the public platform, by someone powerful, it filters down into everybody's life, because it kind of gives permission for other people to do the same thing," she said. "Disrespect invites disrespect. Violence incites violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose."

3"Nevertheless, She Persisted"

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As Senator Elizabeth Warren debated Jeff Sessions's appointment as Attorney General on the Senate Floor, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell cut her off and stopped her from reading a letter from Coretta Scott King. Later, describing the incident and reprimanding Warren, McConnell said, "Senator Warren was giving a lengthy speech. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." Instantly, "Nevertheless, she persisted" morphed into an uplifting battle cry for women across Twitter. Much like the taking back of "Nasty Woman," in 2016, the phrase sparked a movement of women refusing to be silenced and spread via protest signs and t-shirts. Chelsea Clinton even used it for the title of her children's book.

With her Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Fences, Viola Davis made history as the first black actor to win an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony award. In her emotional and inspiring acceptance speech, the actress said, "People ask me all the time, what kind of stories do you want to tell, Viola? And I say, exhume those bodies. Exhume those stories. The stories of the people who dreamed big and never saw those dreams to fruition. People who fell in love and lost. I became an artist—and thank God I did—because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life."

5'Fearless Girl' Arrives in New York

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In honor of International Women's Day in March, a new statue dubbed Fearless Girlarrived on Wall Street in New York. The sculpture of a young girl boldly facing adversity was placed in front of the Financial District's charging bull sculpture as a message to companies to place women on their board of directors. The installment, though initially meant to be temporary, became a landmark of hope for women and young girls everywhere and still stands today.

With her signature clapbacks and one-liners, Representative Maxine Waters had a year of incredible moments. Her most memorable, though, came during a House committee meeting in August, when Waters's speaking time was interrupted by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. She immediately cut him off, repeating the phrase, "reclaiming my time!" over his speech. The moment instantly went viral, sparking a flood of memes and tweets, and later became the theme for the 2017 Women's Convention.

8Cardi B Breaks a Billboard Music Record

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In September, Cardi B became the first female rapper to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart with a solo song since Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" in 1998. The rapper's "Bodak Yellow" broke the 19-year record and marked a major win for women (namely female rappers) in music.

9'Big Little Lies' and 'The Handmaid's Tale' Sweep The Emmys

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The female-produced HBO miniseries starring Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Reese Witherspoon, Zoe Kravitz, and Shailene Woodley took home a whopping eight Emmys, proving the need for women-led stories and the importance of the female perspective. Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale also broke a 22-year streak of men winning Best Directing for a Drama Series when Reed Morano took home the prize.

10The #MeToo Movement Goes Global

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Over a decade ago, Tarana Burke started the Me Too movement to help women and girls who had been victims of sexual assault and harassment. This year, following the takedown of Hollywood producer and sexual predator Harvey Weinstein, the movement went viral after a tweet from Alyssa Milano sparked a global conversation. Taking over every social media platform available, women across the world shared their personal stories of sexual assault to expose the global epidemic—finally holding men accountable for their unacceptable treatment of women. The movement in part led to the takedown of other high profile celebrities and politicians who had sexually harassed and assaulted women. Coined by Burke, the simplicity of saying "me too" proved the power of women banding together and speaking up.

11Women Run For Office in Record Numbers

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Following the 2016 election, a record number of women ran for political office in 2017. According to EMILY's List and She Should Run, more than 35,000 women reached out to the two organizations with an interest in running for office at local, state, and federal levels this year. Additionally, She Should Run announced a campaign to achieve gender equality amongst America's elected officials by the year 2030—which would mean women would have to fill 250,000 of the nation's roughly 500,000 elected positions, according to the group. Thanks, President Trump.

12Danica Roem Becomes First Openly Transgender Woman Elected to State Legislature

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Danica Roem made history in November when she became the first openly transgender person elected to a U.S. state legislature. As if Roem's victory wasn't sweet enough, she also won against Republican opponent Bob Marshall, one of the lawmakers who tried to push the extremely controversial Transgender Bathroom Bill. Sweet, sweet victory.

13Tiffany Haddish Makes SNL History

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In November, Tiffany Haddish became the first black female stand-up comic to host an episode of Saturday Night Live in its 43-season history. For the occasion, the Girls Trip star used her opening monologue to address issues like sexual harassment and assault, doling out some much-needed wisdom: "Listen fellas, listen, if you got your thing-thing out, and she got all her clothes on, you’re wrong. You’re in the wrong. Wait till she takes her own clothes off, then pull your thing-thing out!"

14Black Women Defeat Roy Moore in Alabama

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A December special election for Jeff Sessions's Alabama Senate seat became one of the most-followed in the country, with Democrat Doug Jones facing off against Republican Roy Moore. In November, several women and teenagers accused Moore, a Trump and GOP-endorsed candidate, of sexual harassment and child molestation. Despite these allegations, he continued to run with support from his political party. When the polls closed, the vote was extremely close, with Jones winning thanks to black voters—particularly black women. According to exit polls, 98 percent of black female voters voted for Doug Jones. Meanwhile, 63 percent of white women and 72 percent of white men voted for Moore. Jones's victory was a huge win for not only Democrats, but for so many women whose sexual harassment claims have been disregarded.

15Time Names 'The Silence Breakers' Person of The Year

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Rounding out the year of wins for women was Time's highly-anticipated "Person of the Year" issue, which declared "The Silence Breakers" persons of the year. Highlighting the voices of the women behind the #MeToo movement, the cover story spotlighted Ashley Judd, Rose McGowan, Tarana Burke, Alyssa Milano, and so many more who used their voices to advocate change for women this year.

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